بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - شَوَّال الْمُكَرَّم
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
L
O
A
D
I
N
G
Fajr
05:30 AM
✓
Asr
06:30 PM
Maghrib
07:56 PM
Isha
09:45 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
Zakat
زكاة
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Zakat is "Obligatory Charity," the third pillar of Islam. It is a mandatory payment (typically 2.5% of one's surplus wealth) given annually to specific categories of people in need, such as the poor and the debt-ridden. Zakat literally means "to Purify" and "to Grow." It purifies the wealth of the giver from greed and purifies the heart of the receiver from envy. It is a system of social justice designed to ensure that wealth circulates within the community and supports the vulnerable. Zakat is due on gold, silver, cash, business inventory, agricultural produce, and livestock once they reach a minimum threshold (Nisab) and have been in one's possession for a full lunar year (Hawl). The Nisab is equivalent to the value of 87.48 grams of gold or 612.36 grams of silver. The Quran specifies eight categories of recipients: the poor, the needy, Zakat administrators, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, those in bondage, debtors, those fighting for Allah's cause, and travelers (9:60). Zakat is distinct from Sadaqah (voluntary charity) in its obligatory nature and specific rules. Paying Zakat is an act of worship that demonstrates gratitude for Allah's provision and acknowledges that all wealth ultimately belongs to God. It fosters social solidarity, reduces economic inequality, and purifies society from the ills of greed and hoarding. The Prophet warned: "Any owner of gold and silver who does not pay what is due on them will have plates of fire heated for him on the Day of Resurrection and his sides, forehead, and back will be branded with them" (Muslim). Zakat is not a tax but a religious duty that benefits both the giver and the recipient, creating a society where wealth is shared and the vulnerable are protected. For believers, paying Zakat is a means of attaining Allah's pleasure, purifying their wealth, and contributing to the well-being of the Ummah.
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